Volleys

I was practicing a couple of weeks ago with my doubles partner (Sean) and was up at the net hitting volleys. My forehand volley was a shot I tended to think about a little too much when playing because unforced errors and lack luster put-aways were cropping up too much during match play: when I received an up ball on a poach I would pop it up too much or hit the net (that's the worst). The solution was easy--I was putting too much slice on the shot (too much "work" on the ball); better to hit through the ball clean and finish through the ball. Remember this tip: when the ball is above the net-- stick it and step "as" you hit the ball; if the ball is below the net step "first" then put a little slice for control. Both of these volleys start with the same wrist position the only difference is the "follow-through:" slice is down slightly with a firm wrist postion and flat is foward with an extension of the forearm straight ahead--also with a firm wrist.

First weekend in February will be our Mixed Doubles Tournament. You will get your tournament play, a mixed tennis social, with a player reception all just for $35.00. Hell I spend that just on Bagels and coffee each week. There's a lot of energy at the club right now riding on the coat tails of the singles tournament. Don't miss this one.

Scoring for Tennis for Life

Scoring was first invented in France when a court tennis ruled the game of Kings and serfs would come to serve for their masters on ther first indoor castle courts that used windows in the scheme. Hey, we all could use a professional server in our bull pen. The clock was used a means of keeping score.

Quarter past is 15
Half past is 30
Three Quarter past is 40 (I guess they knew people would say 40-5 for short and mean 40-15 so the score 
                                       of 45 for three points was not right)-ha.
Game is back where you started

Zero is Luv  0 which is the goose egg

Deuce is 40 all  and  one must win two points in a row to take the game
if you win the first point after deuce and you are the server then you have Addvantage In (Ad-In); if your the server and you lose the deuce point then the Advantage is out (Ad-Out). This can go back and forth for quite a while. This is called ad scoring which is the traditional scoring.

First player to win six games by a margin of two wins the set. If the set gets to six games all a twelver point tie-break is played. That is the subject of the next post.

First player to win two sets wins the match (best two out of three). That is the method that is used for most of the tour matches. The exception is the majors (Wimbledon, French, US Open, Australian) for men they play best out of five sets (first to win three) and at Wimbledon they play out the fifth set (win by two games with no tie-break; that's the way they used to do it). This past year John Isner and Mahut played the longest ever tour match at Wimbledon......It took days.


When you start to serve: go right to left to right for the first point keeping both feet from touching inside or on the baseline until after the ball is struck (you can be over the line in the air), then serve left to right for the next point, and just keep going till someone wins the game. You get two chances to get the ball in the service box. If you miss both you lose the point. If you hit the net and it goes in then you play a let and you get another serve fo that let. If the ball hits the net a goes in during play it counts. If it hit the net and lands out then you lose the point. Make all calls immediately. If it's in you don't say a thing, just play it. If it's out call it right away. If it's on the line it's good. If your not sure it is good. You can ask your opponent if they see it. They have to help. If they don't see it then you lose the point. IF you touch a ball before it lands you lose the point. Let it go. Even if it is heading for Landsdown Street outside Fenway Park.

Wow, that's a lot and there's more, but; at least it's a start.

Kevin Pease
Pro in the Trenches

Tennis Social on October 29th 7-9pm w/ party after

There will be a Halloween Tennis Social on Friday October 29th from 7-9pm with a party after.
The playing level is 3.0 plus. Kevin and Sean will be your host pros. Call 774-392-3666 to sign up.
This is a dress-up event. Leave a message as to what wish wish to bring: salad, fruit, vitimin water, punch, cookies, veggie platter, etc.

How to test your ball speed!

Hey it's been a while,

Well, the Fall is fast approaching but there's still some Summer left. I guess the best part for us locals.

Hopefully the hurricane misses us.

The other day I brought out the speed gun with my son Matt; sure a lot of fun.

It can be used to measure the best possible effect you can impart on a given shot,i.e. a forehand, serve, and backhand. It can also show how different spins produce different ball speeds. You know can test your best shot on the radar and see how to improve you performance. Speed and direction are the two most important attributes when measuring the quality of a shot; spin also causes balls to react differently on the court. 

Example:

Hey lets try lifting the elbow a little higher on the next serve; "wow, that equals ten miles on the serve" or here, this is my impression on Andy Roddick; "wow that was 103 mph"; now for a Pete Sampras serve, still 103 mph,

now my own: that's 103mph. I guess it doesn't matter what I do I still get 103mph, but: I still can hit an 85mph slice wide which is my best pitch; Matt can serve at 60mph; tomorrow may be he can do 65mph.

So:

Come on in and take a lesson with the radar. It's fun and easy to set up. Even for a half an hour.

Have a great end of Summer! Start running, skip some rope, do some strengthening and hit balls.

It's a great way of life. Tennis for Life.

P.S.

 Next week; Wednesday 6:30pm Womens free tennis (all levels) at the Sports Center and Thursday 6:30 will be the mens free tennis (all levels). A great way to gain exposure to other players and league captains and the tennis staff.

Your pro in the trenches, Kevin Pease

Racquet Speed

Racquet speed creates the amount of spin and pace on the ball. To hit a shot with power you have to have racquet speed. Your mechanics--set-up, loading, timing, etc. all effect racquet speed. It's great to have one or two shots that really force your opponent to make errors. Try to get the serve and one groundstroke to fire big. It helps to have a weapon. You have to trust your racquet and yourself, stay lose, grip it and rip it. It's a lot like life.

All the best.

Kevin

Sean and me are here in Watefrville Valley on the red clay for a $ tourney. It's war up here in the mountains.

Your Game

No two people hit the ball the same way. Repeat, no two people hit the ball the same way.

There are basic fundamentals you have to have; after that it's all you. We'll help you find your best game.

Just in case you look in the mirror in the morming and don't see Roger Federer or Maria Sharapova looking back at you. ;)

'Blink Tennis Instruction"

You've perhaps heard of the book--Blink: it talks about how we process information, usually very quickly and unconsciously.

At the Kevin Pease School of Tennis we give you quick personal tips during the drills using audables and visual cues. During changes in the action we give you personal instruction. This way you train 90% with no standing around; 10% is learning and recovery from our pre-planned live-ball drills.

See you on the courts.